Ferre vander Veken

Ferre vander Veken is a Researcher in the Department of Experimental Parasitology at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM), Belgium, focusing on genomic mechanisms in parasitic organisms. His work investigates evolutionary adaptations in neglected tropical disease pathogens.

His research spans:

• Parasitology and molecular pathogenesis
• Genome organisation in kinetoplastid parasites
• Evolutionary drivers of infectious disease
• Chromosomal instability in Trypanosoma cruzi

In 2025, he co-authored a pivotal study in Trends in Parasitology analyzing how genomic disorganisation fuels innovation in T. cruzi, bridging genetics and disease ecology. This work exemplifies his focus on parasite adaptability within infectious disease frameworks.

Dr. vander Veken operates within ITM's Experimental Parasitology unit, contributing to Belgium's tropical disease research infrastructure through molecular investigation of pathogen evolution.